Perils latent in low-cost smart phones

 VietNamNet Bridge – Low cost smart phone users have been warned that they are facing high risks. They may have data stolen, information exposed or lose money in accounts.

HCM City: suburb areas incur heavier flooding

 VietNamNet Bridge – While the number of flooded areas in the inner city has decreased, suburb areas tend to incur heavier flooding.

MOT reconsiders port development strategy

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport (MOT) plans to reconsider the port system in the south to optimize the operation of the ports, while it is considering applying a new management model for the Hai Phong port in the north.

International forum looks at zoo management

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 160 delegates from 20 countries and territories gathered on Monday, Nov 18, in HCM City for a regional conference on improvement of zoo management in the region.

Cu Chi by river

VietNamNet Bridge – A visit to the Cu Chi tunnels is high on the list of most visitors to Vietnam. Now they have the option to put a new spin on the trip by side-stepping the traffic clogged access roads

Tax office continues to tackle transfer pricing

 VietNamNet Bridge – The General Department of Taxation has taken drastic measures to crack down on transfer pricing, confirming it had carried out investigations on businesses using transfer pricing to lower tax obligations.

People's Artist Dang Thai Son to perform in Vietnam this Dec.

People's Artist Dang Thai Son will return to Vietnam to perform a concert titled ‘Dang Thai Son-New Sound in 20th Century’ at the Opera House in Hanoi at 8pm on December 4.

Scammers bait victims with cheap plane tickets

Many people have been tricked out of money in a rush to buy low-cost plane tickets as the busy year-end season approaches.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/11

 Foreign investors refind confidence; MARD to source foreign partners for agriculture; HDBank plans sale to Japanese investors; VN-China trade fair lifts business; Bridgestone Viet Nam pumps capital

Distribution market to be re-mapped once FIEs given right to join market

 VietNamNet Bridge – It is expected that from 2014, foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) would be able to, step by step, distribute some kinds of important goods that they have been prohibited until now.

U.S. launches spacecraft to explore Martian atmosphere

 U.S. space agency NASA launched its newest Mars-bound spacecraft on Monday afternoon to look at the red planet's upper atmosphere, NASA TV showed.

In photos: Wood, rubbish pile up after floods in central Vietnam

The beaches of Da Nang have become giant landfills with hundreds of tons of wood and rubbish drifting from the upstream. In Quang Ngai, people salvaged a lot of wood, including tree trunks of up to 1m in diameter, earning hundreds of US dollars.

In pictures: Impressive colors of Khmer boat racing

 VietNamNet Bridge - The first Ngo Boat Race Festival, which featured the culture of the Khmer People in the Mekong Delta region, took place on November 15-17 in Soc Trang province.

Death count mounts as central VN floods worsen

 VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 31 deaths have been confirmed, nine missing and 20 injured, after floods swept through the central and Central Highlands regions since Friday.

How much do SOEs’ managers earn?

The official statistics by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs showed that the managers of state owned enterprises (SOEs) earn tens of millions of dong a month. However, analysts believe that the actual figures are much higher.

400 athletes compete in Taekwondo tournament

 Almost 400 Taekwondo martial artists from 37 clubs nationwide are competing for the RoK Ambassador’s Cup in Hanoi , which kicked off on November 18.

Kai Hugel displays sculptures made of trash

 VietNamNet Bridge – German artist Kai Hugel is displaying his installations and sculptures made of trash at the Center of Contemporary Fine Arts in Hanoi until November 30.

300-year banyan in Hanoi recognised as Vietnam Heritage Tree

 VietNamNet Bridge – A 300-year old banyan tree in My Duc District, Hanoi has been recognised by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) as a Vietnam Heritage Tree.

Vietnam hosts disaster prevention summit

VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh yesterday called for ASEM countries to strengthen coordination to combat the increasing threat of climate change and natural disasters in the wake of storm Haiyan

Vietnam, Australia hold strategic defence dialogue

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam and Australia have conducted their second defence dialogue with a view to further strengthening the strategic partnership and share their views on regional and international issue of mutual concern.

Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong leaves for India

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his entourage left Hanoi on November 19 for their four-day visit to India aiming to deepen the relationship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Tourism sector to hit goal two years ahead of plan

 Viet Nam is expected to receive 7.4-7.5 million foreign travelers and 35 million domestic tourists at the end of this year, earning total revenues of VND195,000 billion.

Best banks also have big debt ratios

 VietNamNet Bridge – A lot of commercial banks which have been recognized as the bests banks by economic journals turn out to have high bad debt ratios and unsatisfactory business results.

Hydropower reservoirs discharge water, lowland people flooded out

The rains in the central region in recent days are not as heavy as the one that caused the historical flood in 1999. However, they have caused more severe consequences because hydropower reservoirs discharged water at the same time.

Vietnamese Internet service firms rush to make games

 VietNamNet Bridge – The “game community” has become more crowded when more and more information and communication technology firms jump on the bandwagon.